On Tuesday, November 28, the Department of Commerce hosted its third annual Interagency Convening on Equitable Economic Growth. This year's convening celebrated business diversity, equitable workforce development, and community investment in partnership with key stakeholders from government, private sector, and community organizations.  

The convening featured keynote speaker Janice Bryant Howroyd, the CEO and founder of the largest minority and women-owned Human Resources firm in the nation, along with roundtable panel discussions with government, corporate, and nonprofit leaders. 

The goal of this year's convening is to leverage the Administration and the Department's equitable economic development efforts, including the Business Diversity Principles Initiative and its pillars:  

1. Executive Leadership - diversifying the C-suite and executive boards, ensuring leaders are equipped to implement the other pillars; 

2. Organizational Strategy - short- and long-term strategy development related to business diversity, data, metrics, and accountability; 

3. Workforce Development - talent pipelines, training programs, and wrap-around services; 

4. Human Resources - recruitment, retention, and advancement; 

5. Community Investment - scholarship programs, incubator programs, and other community-based initiatives that address barriers to economic inclusion; and 

6. Business Opportunities - supplier diversity initiatives, from construction and food services to consulting and financial services, and everything in between. 

This convening represents a long-term effort to convene private sector business diversity leaders, amplify existing efforts, and inspire additional actions in this space.